‘Travelling’ guitarist engages residents who need music therapy most

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Musician Jim Ryan will play guitar for residents one on one or while walking down hallways

When local musician Jim Ryan visits Garden Terrace, he tries to spend as much time as he can with those residents who are affected by cognitive impairment, playing guitar for them in their rooms.

Sometimes he will stroll up and down the hallways of the neighbourhoods where residents affected by cognitive impairment live, playing his guitar for their enjoyment. He typically spends about 30 minutes in each neighbourhood.

With pandemic restrictions easing this year, music therapy and live entertainment are areas of daily life the home is ramping up, and guests like Jim bring great value to residents, says Garden Terrace life enrichment co-ordinator Shannon Boisvenue.

Music can provide many benefits to people living with cognitive impairment, Shannon says. Music has the power to lighten moods, ease agitation and leave people feeling uplifted.

Jim has experience offering his music therapy services to people living with cognitive impairment, and his visits are meaningful to the residents of the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home, Shannon notes, adding Jim’s performances “are like travelling music.”

Shannon says many residents affected by cognitive impairment find it difficult to participate in larger programs, so having Jim visit the home with his guitar provides an important service.

And Jim also enjoys playing for people one on one.

“Some people prefer to play for a larger crowd, but he is really into this,” Shannon says.

“(His music therapy) has been something that has been really well received and I think we will continue to do this moving forward.”

The benefits of music therapy for people with cognitive impairment are well documented, and according to the U.S.-based Mayo Clinic, music therapy can benefit both people affected by dementia and their caregivers.

“Research suggests that listening to or singing songs can provide emotional and behavioral benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia,” the Mayo Clinic states on its website.

“Music can also benefit caregivers by reducing anxiety and distress, lightening the mood, and providing a way to connect with loved ones who have Alzheimer’s disease – especially those who have difficulty communicating.”

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‘Travelling programs’ encouraging resident involvement at Garden Terrace

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‘If we bring the program to people, we are making more contact’

The Garden Terrace life enrichment team is finding that individualized one-to-one programs delivered to residents at their own leisure is increasing participation, especially among those residents living with cognitive impairment.

Shannon Boisvenue, the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home’s life enrichment co-ordinator, says her department has been focusing on programs that engage residents living with cognitive impairment to provide them with meaningful activities that meet their needs.

“Travelling programs”, which see team members go from resident to resident to provide a variety of one-to-one activities based on each resident’s interests, has hit the mark, she says.

“It could be going room to room with a dartboard and playing darts with residents for one-to-one programming, and the next person might be a resident who just wants someone to give them a hand massage, so it’s more one-to-one programming that we’re aiming at,” Shannon tells The OMNIway.

“This has been a good program because it lets us connect with more people, rather than just relying on the people who regularly attend programming. If we bring the program to people, we are making more contact.”

There are 16 residents living in each of the home’s secured neighbourhoods, and team members will either conduct programming with residents individually or in groups of two or three for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, based on each resident’s preference.

Shannon says team members speak with each resident to learn more about their interests and strengths and then create individualized activities that meet their interests and strengths.

Team members also relay information to each other to ensure everyone is kept up to date, Shannon says.

“The (life enrichment) staff does a good job of sharing that information (about) which programs have been successful with which residents,” she says.

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Garden Terrace LEC returns to post after 14 years

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‘People were genuinely really happy to see me and have me back. It almost feels like I never left,’ says Shannon Boisvenue

When Shannon Boisvenue came to Garden Terrace July 13 to start her first day on the job as the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home’s life enrichment co-ordinator (LEC), it was a new beginning – and a fond reminder of the past.

Shannon had been the Garden Terrace LEC from 2003 to 2008, and, after more than 10 years, she’s happy to be back.

“Obviously, there are lots of new faces, so I’m trying to meet as many people as I can, but my office is still in the same place and there’s still a great team of people,” she tells The OMNIway.

“It’s definitely great to be back.”

Shannon began her career with OMNI Health Care as a life enrichment aide at Garden Terrace’s sister home, Forest Hill, 20 years ago when it opened, eventually becoming assistant LEC.

When Garden Terrace opened in 2003, Shannon began her first stint as the home’s LEC. She worked as Garden Terrace’s LEC until 2008, when she briefly moved to the office before leaving in summer 2009 to dedicate the next 10 years to raising her four children.

By 2019, Shannon was ready to restart her long-term care career. She had always enjoyed working for OMNI, so when the resident services co-ordinator position opened at Almonte Country Haven that autumn, she applied for and was awarded the job.

Shannon says she “loved” her position at Country Haven, but her “true calling,” she notes, has always been creating programming for seniors.

“I went to school for recreation and that’s what I feel most passionate about, so I’m really glad to have the opportunity to come back here,” she says.

“I’m looking forward to doing what I feel most passionate about, and that’s providing recreation programs for older adults and offering meaningful programs to them.”

While there are some things that have changed since Shannon last worked at Garden Terrace in 2009 – for example, she points out the home now has two rabbits – there are still familiar faces and the friendly camaraderie she remembers is firmly intact.

“One thing that I find quite nice is that a lot of the staff who were here at the time recognize me, and I was really touched by how appreciative they were to have me back and how the welcoming I got was really nice,” she says.

“People were genuinely really happy to see me and have me back. It almost feels like I never left.”

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Program introduces Garden Terrace residents to henna tattoos

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Residents got their own henna designs and learned about the history of this traditional body art

Garden Terrace residents recently spent an afternoon getting henna tattoos and learning about the history of this traditional body art.

Henna tattoos are a traditional South Asian body art created by decorating skin with a dye derived from a paste made from the powdered leaves of the henna plant.

Unlike regular tattoos, henna tattoos are created by making prints on the top layer of skin. The designs fade away after about two weeks.

About 12 residents participated in the program, which was run by the life enrichment department at the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home.

Because some people have a reaction to henna ink, life enrichment aide Neelam Luthara made a different version that everyone could use, explains life enrichment co-ordinator Rachael King.

There were small stencils with designs that team members used to create henna tattoos on participating residents.

Residents also learned about the significance of henna tattoos. Neelam, who is from a South Asian background, shared the history of henna tattoos as well as interesting facts about the designs.

“For example, she explained how when you are married your husband has to find your name in the henna, and if not, he has to give you a gift,” Rachael explains.

According to St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B., henna body art has been practised in South Asia, the Middle East and Africa for more than 5,000 years. Because henna ink has cooling properties, it is believed to have been originally used to defend skin from the heat in warmer parts of the world.

“Today, Henna is mainly used in celebration of special occasions such as weddings and birthdays in the joyous gathering of people,” the university says on its website.

“The Henna paste symbolizes good health and prosperity in marriage, and in some cultures, the darker the henna stain, the deeper the love between two individuals.”

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PHOTO CAPTION: Garden Terrace resident Sophia Tieu shows her new henna tattoo during a recent program.

Garden Terrace residents enjoy first outdoor entertainment of 2022

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Jumpin’ Jimmy Leroux wows everyone with his performance

Garden Terrace residents enjoyed their first outdoor entertainment of the year on June 16 when Jumpin’ Jimmy Leroux made an appearance at the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home.

Jumpin’ Jimmy has made several appearances at Garden Terrace over the years and is a fan-favourite musical guest who gets residents singing and clapping, says Rachael King, the home’s life enrichment co-ordinator.

“It was really nice to see a bunch of people outside enjoying themselves, and the residents were certainly happy to be outside again utilizing the space,” Rachael tells The OMNIway.

“Everyone loves Jimmy, so it was really nice.”

While musical entertainment is always popular at Garden Terrace, residents particularly enjoy it when the performances are held outdoors, Rachael says.

“They definitely prefer the outdoor shows, especially when it’s a nice day, and there is also more room for them,” she says.

About 35 residents were able to attend the event, which was hosted in the Garden Terrace courtyard, Rachael says. Several residents’ family members were also able to attend the event, she adds.

One reason Jumpin’ Jimmy is so popular with residents is that he plays a wide variety of music, Rachael says. Some of the musical genres in his repertoire include modern rock, country and golden oldies.

“He is a very good performer, and he frequents other OMNI homes as well,” Rachael says.

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Garden Terrace residents now enjoying rabbit therapy

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Home has adopted two rabbits that are having a positive impact

Two rabbits have found a home at Garden Terrace, where they now play leading roles in a new pet therapy program.

The rabbits – named Thunder and Coco – came to Garden Terrace from a farm owned by the family of Christine Ritchie, the home’s director of care.

The Garden Terrace team got the idea to adopt the rabbits after learning their sister home in Kanata, Forest Hill, welcomed three guinea pigs in March.

“They have guinea pigs, so we thought we would get some bunnies,” says Garden Terrace life enrichment co-ordinator Rachael King.

Garden Terrace residents had their first rabbit therapy session on June 9. Rachael says the program went well and that being around the small animals brought back fond memories for many.

“The residents really, really enjoyed it,” she says. “Some had bunnies and other animals growing up, and even if they didn’t, a lot of them are animal lovers in general.”

Rachael says having pets living at the home fills an important emotional need for residents.

When residents were engaging with the rabbits, “you could see the compassion and the care and the happiness light up in their eyes because they get to be with an animal again.”

One of the big questions residents were asking was, “when do we have to give them back?” Rachael says.

“It was exciting for them to realize that they have their own animals in the home now.”

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Armchair Travel program lets residents explore the world from home

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Garden Terrace residents have been enjoying a fun and educational travel program from the comfort of home.

Every two weeks, the life enrichment team at the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home hosts the Armchair Travel program, which introduces residents to different countries and cultures.

During the interactive program held in the home’s theatre, residents learn about the similarities and differences between Canada and other countries as well as about customs and traditions.

A big bonus the program offers is that it’s engaging for team members, notes life enrichment co-ordinator Rachael King.

Since people working at Garden Terrace are from diverse backgrounds, team members, including those working outside the life enrichment department, are often asked to lead the program to teach residents about their roots and culture.

In the theatre room, staff will play YouTube videos that are focused on different countries. Residents are encouraged to ask questions and provide the group with insight into their own backgrounds and traditions.

Some of the countries the program has explored include Brazil, India, the Philippines, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Japan.

Rachael says there is no set way of determining how countries are chosen. Sometimes team members will come up with the theme country, other times residents will make suggestions of the countries they would like to explore.

“The residents love it,” Garden Terrace life enrichment co-ordinator Rachael King says of the program. “They get to go somewhere without going out of the home, and they get to experience different countries.”

Rachael says there is also a reminiscing component to the Armchair Travel program.

“There are many residents from different countries, so they can share their stories and experience, and then the residents can ask each other questions,” she says.

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Garden Terrace residents laugh it up

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Two local comedians recently visited the home for dual performances

Garden Terrace residents recently had their funny bones tickled when a pair of local comedians stopped by the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home for dual performances.

The comedians – named Fabio and Rory – were both making their debut appearances at Garden Terrace on May 26, says life enrichment co-ordinator Rachael King, who discovered both gentlemen while searching online for local entertainers.

Fabio did a regular stand-up comedic performance, while Rory is a singing comedian who played songs peppered with jokes and humour, encouraging residents to sing along at times, Rachael explains.

Having comedians perform at the home was a different type of entertainment and one that went over well with the crowd, Rachael says.

“They were both really good and the residents enjoyed them,” she tells The OMNIway.

Pandemic protocols, such as mask-wearing, were in place during the comedians’ performances, and Fabio and Rory garnered a healthy turnout from residents, Rachael notes, adding about 25 residents and family members attended.

Rachael says she would happily have Fabio and Rory back for repeat performances.

“I would definitely have them back; they were very good with the residents and they were funny,” she says.

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Car clubs return to Garden Terrace – and bring back favourite memories for residents

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The Ottawa MG Club and the Ottawa Car Club once again join together to create a meaningful event for residents

Members of the Ottawa MG Club and the Ottawa Car Club returned to Garden Terrace May 18 to provide the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home’s residents with a car show that was engaging and brought back fond memories.

The classic-car clubs were last at Garden Terrace in September, and that car show went so well that life enrichment co-ordinator Rachael King asked them to return.

Residents and Garden Terrace team members walked around the home’s parking lot to look at the cars – many of which were not at the last show – and ask questions.

Rachael says the best part of the event was watching residents reminisce about the classic cars they owned or had a connection with.

There were a variety of different makes and models of classic cars on hand, the oldest being a model from the 1940s, Rachael says.

One car, a classic Cadillac, brought back a favourite childhood memory for one resident, she notes.

“One resident, in particular, remembered his grandpa driving the Cadillac … and he had a lot of fond memories of being in that Cadillac,” Rachael tells The OMNIway.

“That was really nice to see.”

During the event, tea, coffee and cookies were served to everyone. Rachael commends the life enrichment team members who volunteered their own time to help make the car show a success.

Looking ahead, Rachael says there may be more opportunities this summer for residents to attend car shows, adding there will be one in the area in August residents and staff might check out.

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Dance troupe makes Garden Terrace debut in early April

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Celtic Cross Dancers bring a memorable performance of Irish, Scottish and other dances to residents

A Celtic dance troupe made its Garden Terrace debut April 6 during a performance for residents and staff members at the Kanata, Ont. long-term care home.

The Celtic Cross Dancers perform what they describe on their website as a “trifecta” of traditional Irish, Scottish and Ottawa Valley step dances.

The troupe was originally scheduled to perform at the Garden Terrace St. Patrick’s Day party on March 17, but the event was postponed, says Garden Terrace life enrichment co-ordinator Rachael King.

When Rachael was looking for St Patrick’s Day entertainment in March, she found the Celtic Cross Dancers’ website and contacted the group.

“I wanted to spice things up and kind of do something different,” she tells The OMNIway.

“I found this group and they showed up and performed traditional Irish dance, traditional Scottish dance and river dancing.”

In between the group’s performances, a singer took the stage to entertain residents with Celtic songs, Rachael adds.

The approximately 20 residents attending were in awe by the performances, Rachael says.

“They loved it,” she says. “We will definitely be bringing them back again.”

According to the Celtic Cross Dancers’ website, the group has performed across the globe.

“Collectively, we have decades of experience as teachers, performers, competitors, and choreographers,” the website states.

“We’ve performed for diplomats, royalty, festival audiences, wedding guests, political staff, and much more.”

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